8/12/24 - Is This Thing Plugged In?
As a speech-language pathologist, we often use a strategy called generative naming to help with thought processing and word-finding skills. Today, I was contemplating the concept of power and the various things that can be considered powerful. This can include powerful people, corporations, equipment, and natural forces, among many others.
While reflecting on power, I couldn't help but think that most of us, unless we hold high positions in a company, organization, or public office, don't view ourselves as powerful. Do you see yourself only as an ordinary person going about an ordinary day in an ordinary job and life? If so, I want to encourage you that you are not ordinary. You are POWERFUL!
Let's begin with God’s Word:
Jesus tells us in John 14:12, " Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. " Or consider Matthew 17:20 "... if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you." (emphasis mine)
Nothing will be impossible for you. "That's incredibly powerful, isn't it? Remember, the key element here is your FAITH."
So, let’s talk about faith for a moment. What is it? One definition from the Oxford dictionary states that faith is “complete trust or confidence in someone or something.” Wow. Complete trust or confidence, not some trust or confidence, not intermittent trust or confidence, but COMPLETE, TOTAL, UNWAVERING. That’s enormous! And that is the key to the power within.
You may remember the story from the Bible about the woman with the issue of blood who had been bleeding for twelve years. She believed that if she could just reach Jesus, she would be healed. So, she made her way through the crowd to get close enough to just touch the hem of His garment. By connecting with the power source, she experienced complete healing in her body.
If we truly believe, we have access to the most powerful force in eternity: God. It is God's power working through you that can help you grasp the idea that you can be used in a mighty way.
Think you can’t have faith like that? You can. Some time ago, I had put God on the back burner. I claimed to be a Christian but only attended church occasionally - it wasn't a priority to me. I felt disenchanted with the church. I would say things like "church isn't the same as it used to be when I was young" and "pastors don't preach salvation messages anymore."
I then happened upon a message from a preacher that really touched me. I decided not to base my faith on the actions of church leaders and instead focus on what I could control: myself. I made the decision to attend church every Sunday, not stopping there. I committed myself to attending church on Saturday evenings at one location and on Sunday mornings at another location. I additionally pledged to pick up my Bible and read it daily, as well as to resume praying.
Want to know what happened? My faith began to grow again, and my desire to return to God with my whole heart was reignited. More than reignited! I can't get enough, and now, I’m starting to see fruits from that effort. I no longer feel powerless and helpless. I ask God to open my spiritual heart so that I can see, hear and understand His ways.
I’m looking outside of myself and seeking to plug into the things that God cares about. When you connect with the True Power Source, you begin to understand how the verses shared above can transform your life from ordinary to extraordinary. Folks, that’s pretty powerful.
I'm still growing - will never stop - but I'll tell you one thing, I can feel the POWER more and more every day.
Think about it. If the lamp sitting on your end table isn't fully plugged into the outlet, you may have no light at all or only a flicker; but fully connected, it produces the light it was created to produce. Same with us. We cannot effectively produce light apart from God (our power source). We may have no light at all or only a flicker as if we are only partially plugged in.
I want my life to be fully plugged in. I want to be able to claim Jesus' words, "nothing will be impossible for you."
Eyes on the Prize,
Kynda
